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Longridge £250k lottery win dad in benefits fraud

A BENEFITS cheat continued to claim thousands despite winning £250,000 on a Lottery scratchcard.

Andrew Crossthwaite, 23, of Mersey Street, Longridge, won the six-figure sum on June 25, 2010, but raked in £4,614 in Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) for himself, his partner and child until
January 20.

He told the authorities he was incapable of work due to an alcohol abuse problem.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) said Crossthwaite now had nothing left of the Lottery win, having blown the money on cars, drugs, and gifts to friends.

Crossthwaite pleaded guilty to failing to notify the authorities of a change in his circumstances at Preston Magistrates Court.

DWP Minister for Welfare Reform, Lord Freud, said: “When people receive benefits from us they enter into a contract to tell us of any change in their circumstances.

“Deliberately not doing so is a crime and takes valuable funds from those who need them the most.

“At best they will have to repay us all the money they have taken, at worst they will end up a criminal and in the pages of a newspaper.”

Two other charges of wrongfully claiming council tax benefit and housing benefit following the win were withdrawn.

Crossthwaite was placed on a one-year supervision order, with 36 hours at an attendance centre, The court also told him to pay £100 costs.

Comments

frank
3:50pm Tue 13 Dec 11

he may be a sticky fingered low life but this
'Deliberately not doing so is a crime and takes valuable funds from those who need them the most' is untrue. the money he stole , he took from the government / taxpayers NOT the genuine sick. they never see any of this mystical extra that is saved.

he may be a sticky fingered low life but this
'Deliberately not doing so is a crime and takes valuable funds from those who need them the most' is untrue. the money he stole , he took from the government / taxpayers NOT the genuine sick. they never see any of this mystical extra that is saved.frank

he may be a sticky fingered low life but this
'Deliberately not doing so is a crime and takes valuable funds from those who need them the most' is untrue. the money he stole , he took from the government / taxpayers NOT the genuine sick. they never see any of this mystical extra that is saved.

Score: 0

useyourhead
4:33pm Tue 13 Dec 11

bet he hasn't got nearly so many friends now the money is gone!

bet he hasn't got nearly so many friends now the money is gone!useyourhead

bet he hasn't got nearly so many friends now the money is gone!

Score: 0

Dave139
4:48pm Tue 13 Dec 11

Re-claim all the benefits + interest then jail him.

Re-claim all the benefits + interest then jail him.Dave139

Re-claim all the benefits + interest then jail him.

Score: 0

Michael@ClitheroeSince58
5:15pm Tue 13 Dec 11

I bet he hasn't even made a start on what the bankers stole!

I bet he hasn't even made a start on what the bankers stole!Michael@ClitheroeSince58

I bet he hasn't even made a start on what the bankers stole!

Score: 0

ghanto
7:59pm Tue 13 Dec 11

its simply a greedy idiot

its simply a greedy idiotghanto

its simply a greedy idiot

Score: 0

Paul The Octopus Lives!
9:42pm Tue 13 Dec 11

"He told the authorities he was incapable of work due to an alcohol abuse problem."
Job Centre Man: Right Andrew let's look at sorting a job for you.
Andrew: Sorry I'm incapable of work due to an alcohol abuse problem.
Job Centre Man: Well here's an idea; stop abusing alcohol, get off your lazy arse and get a job. By the way your benefits have now been stopped.
Ahhhhhhh...if only.....

"He told the authorities he was incapable of work due to an alcohol abuse problem."
Job Centre Man: Right Andrew let's look at sorting a job for you.
Andrew: Sorry I'm incapable of work due to an alcohol abuse problem.
Job Centre Man: Well here's an idea; stop abusing alcohol, get off your lazy arse and get a job. By the way your benefits have now been stopped.
Ahhhhhhh...if only.....Paul The Octopus Lives!

"He told the authorities he was incapable of work due to an alcohol abuse problem."
Job Centre Man: Right Andrew let's look at sorting a job for you.
Andrew: Sorry I'm incapable of work due to an alcohol abuse problem.
Job Centre Man: Well here's an idea; stop abusing alcohol, get off your lazy arse and get a job. By the way your benefits have now been stopped.
Ahhhhhhh...if only.....

Score: 0

useyourhead
10:22pm Tue 13 Dec 11

Paul The Octopus Lives! wrote…

"He told the authorities he was incapable of work due to an alcohol abuse problem."
Job Centre Man: Right Andrew let's look at sorting a job for you.
Andrew: Sorry I'm incapable of work due to an alcohol abuse problem.
Job Centre Man: Well here's an idea; stop abusing alcohol, get off your lazy arse and get a job. By the way your benefits have now been stopped.
Ahhhhhhh...if only.....

no, sadly they would actually increase his benefits as alcoholics get a booze allowance!

[quote][p][bold]Paul The Octopus Lives![/bold] wrote:
"He told the authorities he was incapable of work due to an alcohol abuse problem."
Job Centre Man: Right Andrew let's look at sorting a job for you.
Andrew: Sorry I'm incapable of work due to an alcohol abuse problem.
Job Centre Man: Well here's an idea; stop abusing alcohol, get off your lazy arse and get a job. By the way your benefits have now been stopped.
Ahhhhhhh...if only.....[/p][/quote]no, sadly they would actually increase his benefits as alcoholics get a booze allowance!useyourhead

Paul The Octopus Lives! wrote…

"He told the authorities he was incapable of work due to an alcohol abuse problem."
Job Centre Man: Right Andrew let's look at sorting a job for you.
Andrew: Sorry I'm incapable of work due to an alcohol abuse problem.
Job Centre Man: Well here's an idea; stop abusing alcohol, get off your lazy arse and get a job. By the way your benefits have now been stopped.
Ahhhhhhh...if only.....

no, sadly they would actually increase his benefits as alcoholics get a booze allowance!

Score: 0

gazzandste
12:35am Wed 14 Dec 11

Why not take his 250k off him to pay for his payments for the alcohol allowance he was given. LOW LIFE. Stop this slime balls benefits asp. One less for us workers to keep.

Why not take his 250k off him to pay for his payments for the alcohol allowance he was given. LOW LIFE. Stop this slime balls benefits asp. One less for us workers to keep.gazzandste

Why not take his 250k off him to pay for his payments for the alcohol allowance he was given. LOW LIFE. Stop this slime balls benefits asp. One less for us workers to keep.

Score: 0

the_truth_is_out_there_!
9:07am Wed 14 Dec 11

Low life taking my hard earned tax money! Sadly not an isolated incident and if he's doing it so are probably his mates and members of family. It's an epidemic and we need a solution - now!

Low life taking my hard earned tax money! Sadly not an isolated incident and if he's doing it so are probably his mates and members of family. It's an epidemic and we need a solution - now!the_truth_is_out_there_!

Low life taking my hard earned tax money! Sadly not an isolated incident and if he's doing it so are probably his mates and members of family. It's an epidemic and we need a solution - now!

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